Song 5 – The marriage procession, their beauty revealed (Song of Solomon 3:6-11Song of Solomon 3:6-11XWaiting for response to Song of Solomon 4:1-7)Song of Solomon 4:1-7XWaiting for response
Bridegroom
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
“doves’ eyes” – a clean bird, sacrificed according to the guidance of the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 1:4;Leviticus 1:4XWaiting for response 5:7, 11). A symbol of purity and innocence (Psalm 55:6-8).Psalm 55:6-8XWaiting for response An extremely loyal bird that has a lifetime mate
“within thy locks” (4:1) is better translated, as the Revised Version does, “behind the veil”. That is, the innocent “doves’ eyes” of the Bride are to be found behind a veil covering, seemingly for modesty
“hair... flock of goats” – the woman’s long hair is for glory and a covering (1 Corinthians 11:15).1 Corinthians 11:15XWaiting for response Goats’ hair also featured in the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:7)Exodus 26:7XWaiting for response
In total, our attention is drawn to seven aspects of perfection (eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, breasts), emphasising the completeness of the Bride’s spiritual character. As such, she appears as if faultless (4:7 “no spot in thee”), reminding us of the description of the redeemed in Revelation (Revelation 14:4-5)Revelation 14:4-5XWaiting for response and the faithful in Jude (Jude 1:24-25).Jude 1:24-25XWaiting for response
In the first seven verses of chapter 4, a marvellous and intricate picture of the Bride, as surveyed by the Bridegroom. The rich description used in this section of the song is sublime!
Accordingly, we should once again remind ourselves of our part (God willing) in the song. It is in prospect, each of us as seen through the eyes of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. What a breath-taking thought this is!
“teeth... flock of sheep” – in other words the teeth are white, smooth and matching; the Bride, spiritually speaking, has eaten the correct things (as in Hebrew 5:12-14) and is spiritually nourished
“lips... thread of scarlet” (4:3) – that is, healthy and vibrant. Scarlet is a scriptural symbol of salvation and election (see Joshua 2:18,Joshua 2:18XWaiting for response the story of Rahab, and Genesis 38:28,Genesis 38:28XWaiting for response the events concerning Tamar and Pharez / Zarah)
“temples... pomegranate” – being packed with seeds, epitomising fruitfulness. This symbol was also used in the priestly garments in the law (as Exodus 28:34).Exodus 28:34XWaiting for response Also note that Jewish scholars, albeit rather speculatively, link this with the original Eden fruit
“neck... tower of David” – that is, upright, not bent or turned back. This is as an ornament, see also Proverbs 1:8-9Proverbs 1:8-9XWaiting for response
“two breasts... two young roes” – signifying spiritual maturity (compare with Song of Solomon 8:8,10).Song of Solomon 8:8,10XWaiting for response Jew & Gentile believers being represented in the two parts. [We also touched on the imagery of the breasts in chapter 1’s introduction]
The Bridegroom, having completed his enraptured description of the Bride’s beauty, continues his dialogue by opening the sixth song.
The song begins with a view of the whole land of promise, from the elevated vantage point of “Lebanon... from the top... from the mountains” (4:8). As recent history has confirmed, these northern territories have been inhabited for a long time by the enemies of Israel, hence the description of “lion’s dens... leopards”. However, this continuing northern oppression will soon be dealt with once and for all.
“Thou has ravished my heart”, the Bridegroom says twice in verse 9. The exact meaning of the root of this word “ravished” is uncertain. However, it most likely either describes the physiological effects of love (Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Lexicon says the word means ‘to make the heart beat faster’), as is picked up in the New American Standard Bible 1977 & 1995 and the International Standard Version (all “You have made my heart beat faster”); or else the captivation / enslavement of the heart, which is supported by modern translations such as the New English Translation (“You have stolen my heart...”), New Living Translation (“You have captured my heart…”) and English Standard Version (“You have captivated my heart…”).
What is it that has so enraptured the Bridegroom?
Well, the King James Version (still in verse 9) records it as being with “one… eyes… one chain… neck”, whereas the New English Translation is perhaps a little clearer when it says with “one glance… eyes… one jewel… necklace”. We might say that these apparently small details / intricacies are keenly observed by the Bridegroom. As Francis Bacon once wrote in one of his Essays: ‘it is true that small matters win great commendation’. As such, we should attend both to matters large and (apparently) smaller.
The song then goes back to describe the effect of the Bride upon the Bridegroom (focussing the picture on the face / neck of the Bride).
Four times in this sixth song we have the phrase “my sister, my spouse” (v.s. 9,10,12 & Song of Solomon 5:1);Song of Solomon 5:1XWaiting for response in fact, this phrase exclusively appears in this song. Thus, the relationship between the Bridegroom and the Bride, the Lord Jesus Christ and ourselves (God willing), as we noted in our introductory chapter, is a multifaceted one. On the one hand we have a “sister” who is trying to keep the commandments (Matthew 12:50).Matthew 12:50XWaiting for response
On the other hand, we have a spouse, “a chaste virgin”, awaiting her Lord’s return (2 Corinthians 11:2).2 Corinthians 11:2XWaiting for response
In verse 11, we have mention of “honeycomb”, “honey” and “milk”, each of which is connected in scripture to the Word of God (see Psalm 119:103;Psalm 119:103XWaiting for response Proverbs 24:13,14Proverbs 24:13,14XWaiting for response and Isaiah 55:1).Isaiah 55:1XWaiting for response However, more than this, these also have an Israelitish connection, since the land promised to the descendants of Abraham (which includes us by adoption), is a land that is quite literally flowing with these things (Exodus 3:8).Exodus 3:8XWaiting for response
The concluding section of the sixth song has a particular emphasis on the garden and its flora. For example, we are introduced to this in verse 11, which describes how the Bride’s “garments… smell of Lebanon”. This is likely a reference to the aromatic perfume of the Cedar tree, which being highly resistant / resilient (e.g. the resinous sap kept it free from worms) is an appropriate figure for immortality / incorruption.
Specifically in this sixth song the symbol of the garden is used to describe the Bride, set apart from the world and its influences. This separation aspect is alluded to three times in the twelfth verse: “inclosed... shut up... sealed” (says the Bridegroom of his beloved). We might say that the outside world cannot penetrate the garden’s defences.
We should likewise be severed from the world’s harmful influences, for as we often remark we are commanded to be ‘in it but not of it’ (see John 17:11,14,John 17:11,14XWaiting for response 2 Corinthians 6:17-18).2 Corinthians 6:17-18XWaiting for response
This separated location, in the figure, is also as Eden restored (cp. Ezekiel 36:5),Ezekiel 36:5XWaiting for response like a separated garden or “paradise” (remembering Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross, Luke 23:43).Luke 23:43XWaiting for response
It is also perhaps noteworthy that in this garden there are nine varieties of flora (verses 13 and 14: “pomegranates”, “camphire”, “spikenard”, “saffron”, “calamus”, “cinnamon”, “frankincense”, “myrrh” and “aloes”), just as there are also nine elements mentioned in Galatians 5, in connection with the love-centred “fruit of the spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).Galatians 5:22-23XWaiting for response
Additionally, the Bride is described as “A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters” (4:15). Of course, the only true source of living waters is God (as evidenced in Jeremiah 2:13;Jeremiah 2:13XWaiting for response 17:13). However, our hope is to personally receive the living water of eternal life, as noted by Jesus in John’s gospel record (John 4:10,11;John 4:10,11XWaiting for response John 7:38).John 7:38XWaiting for response
It is can helpful to focus on the words of the Bride in verse 16.
This is surely also our cry, dear brothers and sisters! We desire the coming conflict (or ‘blowing’) between the Kings of the North and South, to usher the return of our longed-for Bridegroom (see Daniel 11:40).Daniel 11:40XWaiting for response Every indication in the world says that our Bridegroom’s appearance is near at hand. The hustle and bustle of life may at times mislead us to believe that all things will continue as they are now. However, they simply will not – indeed they cannot!
So, we must continue to work upon our characters, since at the judgement seat these will be all that we have to recommend us. The Bride is altogether lovely and this is the high (gold) standard for which we must strive.
Thanks be to God that through His great mercy we have set before us the prospect of standing before our beloved without spot and blameless!
Song 6 – The Bride compared to a lovely garden
(Song of Solomon 4:8-16Song of Solomon 4:8-16XWaiting for response to Song of Solomon 5:1)Song of Solomon 5:1XWaiting for response
Bridegroom
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
Bride
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.